Among the artworks carted off were a Rodin statue and 10 Fabergé eggs.

Obiang Jnr denies any wrongdoing and previous attempts to question him were rejected by Oliver Pardo, a lawyer for the oil-producing nation.

"Unless one wishes to violate the sovereignty of the state of Equatorial Guinea and harm relations between France and Equatorial Guinea, it is absurd to want to launch an arrest warrant," he told Reuters.

Late last year, police seized 11 turbo-charged cars, including Bugattis, Ferraris, Maseratis and Porsches, that belonged to Obiang Jnr, who is known for his extravagant lifestyle.

The original complaint was brought by Transparency International, an anti-corruption campaign group that accuses several African leaders of misappropriating public funds.

Equatorial Guinea is one of Africa's largest oil exporters, producing 240,000 barrels of oil per day.